On his very first mission, the one to Cologne on May 30, Harold, while not completely finished his machine-gun training at Upper Heyford, managed to shoot down the German fighter who had attacked his Wellington.
Two days later, he was on board the DV763 when he took off from Upper Heyford at 2302. On returning from the mission, at the height of Mechelen, a German fighter attacked the Wellington and damaged an engine, which caught fire.
The fire spread rapidly and the Pilot, P/O Ronald James Robinson, gave the order to evacuate the aircraft. He will lose his life, as will P/O Charles O'Brien, RCAF. Both are buried at the Adegem Canadian Military Cemetery south of Bruges.
Two men were taken prisoner: Canadian Sgt E. T. Beal, bomber, and F/S RAF J. M. Forster (Forrester?), W/O.
wbr/>Only Harold De Mone can escape.
